Leopard tank

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Leopard 1

General characteristics
Crew	4 (commander, driver, gunner, radio operator/loader)
Length	9.54 m
Width	3.37 m
Height	2.62 m
Weight	42.5 tonnes
Armour and armament
Armour	70 mm
Main armament	105mm rifled tank gun
Secondary armament	2×7.62 mm MG 3i (co-axial and commander's hatch)
Mobility
Power plant	10-cylinder, multi-fuel engine 830hp (620 kW)
Suspension	torsion-bar
Road speed	65 km/h
Power/weight	20 hp/tonne
Range	600 km

The Leopard (or Leopard 1) is a German designed and produced main battle tank that first entered service in 1965 and was used as the main battle tank for Germany, several other European countries, Australia, Canada, Brazil and Chile.

It is a fairly conventional design armed with a German-built version of the British L7 105-mm gun and known for its good cross-country speed.

The design started as a collaborative project between Germany and France in the 1950s, but the partnership ended and the final design was ordered by the Bundeswehr, production starting in 1965. In total 6485 vehicles have been built, of which 4744 battle tanks and 1741 utility vehicle and anti-aircraft variants, not including eighty prototypes and preseries vehicles.

Since 1990, the Leopard 1 has gradually been relegated to secondary roles in most armies, except for the Canadian Army where it remains the primary offensive fighting vehicle and the Australian Army where it is due for replacement. In the Bundeswehr it has been fully replaced by the Leopard 2.

1 Development history
2 Operators
- 2.1 Australia
  - 2.1.1 Australian Leopard external links
- 2.2 Canada
  - 2.2.1 Canadian Leopard external links
3 External links

[edit] Development history

[edit] Leopard 1

Australian Army Leopard AS (1A3) on exercise

The Leopard project started in November 1956 in order to develop a modern tank, the Standard-Panzer, to replace the Bundeswehr's United States-built M-47 & M48 tanks, which, though just delivered to West Germany's recently reconstituted army, were rapidly growing outdated. On 25 July 1957 the detailed specifications were released; the new design needed to weigh no more than thirty metric tons, have a power to weight ratio of thirty hp per ton, be able to withstand from all sides hits by 20 mm rapid-fire guns and operate in a battlefield contaminated with chemical weapons or radioactive fallout, the then-standard baseline for combat with the Warsaw Pact. In addition the main armament had to consist of a 105 mm caliber weapon (the new British L7A3 105 mm gun was in fact selected), carrying at least as many rounds as current US tank designs. Mobility had priority, firepower came second; armour was seen as less essential, as it was believed no real protection against hollow charge weapons was possible anyway.

France was very interested in the design as its own AMX-50 project had just failed. In June 1957, West Germany and the French Fourth Republic signed an agreement to develop a common tank, designated in German Europa-Panzer. Three German (Arbeitsgruppe A,B and C) and one French design teams would be included in a competition, with each team producing two prototypes each. In September, 1958 Italy joined the development program. Several prototypes were entered for testing in 1960. Among the prototypes were Porsche's Model 734 from team A, sporting a cast turret and that of team B (Rheinmetall) whose cast turret was somewhat higher. Team C from Borgward, designing a very futuristic tank, failed to have a prototype ready in time.

Even before these first prototypes were finished, it had in 1959 been decided that a second phase with improved designs would be started: Team A had to build 26 Prototypes II for testing, team B six. Only two tanks of team B would actually be constructed.

The Porsche Prototype II was eventually selected as the winner of the contest in 1963; this didn't come as a surprise: it had already been decided in 1961 to build a preseries of fifty vehicles based on this design; production of these was started that very year. This "0-series" was modified with a new cast turret and several hull changes to raise the rear deck to provide more room in the engine compartment, and move some of the radiators to the upper sides of the hull. Before mass production of the standard version started it was also decided to add an optical range-finding system for better long-range gunnery, which required the turret to be somewhat taller, and added "bumps" on either side of the turret to mount the optics for triangulation. In 1963 France and Germany had decided to each build their own tank; Italy would at first license-build the M60.

Production was set up at Krauss-Maffei of Munich from early 1964 onward, with deliveries of the first batch between September, 1965 and July, 1966. The Leopard was soon being purchased from Germany by a number of NATO members and other allies including in chronological order Belgium (1968), The Netherlands (1969), Norway (1970), Italy (1971), Denmark (1976), Australia (1976), Canada (1978), Turkey (1980) and Greece (1981). Italy would later build 720 battle tanks and 160 utility vehicles under license. Germany has a strict export policy for military equipment; Greece, Spain and Chile, when still dictatorships, purchased the other tank derived from the Europa-Panzer project: the French AMX-30.

[edit] Leopard 1A1

After the first batch was delivered the next three batches were the Leopard 1A1 model, which included a new gun stabilization system from Cadillac-Gage, allowing the tank to fire effectively on the move. The 1A1 also added the now-famous "skirts" along the sides to protect the upper tracks, and a new thermal jacket on the gun barrel to control heating. A less important change was to use rectangular rubber blocks fastened to the treads with a single pin instead of the earlier two-pin "shaped" versions, which could be easily replaced in the winter with metal X-shaped crampons for movement on ice and snow.

Between 1974 and 1977 all of the machines in the first four batches were brought to the same Leopard 1A1A1 standard, and given additional turret armor developed by Blohm & Voss. A further upgrade in the 1980s added leftover image-intensifier night sights which were being handed down from the Leopard 2 as they were themselves upgraded. The PZB 200 image intensification system was mounted in a large box on the upper right of the gun, creating the Leopard 1A1A2. A further upgrade with SEM80/90 all-digital radios created the Leopard 1A1A3.

[edit] Leopard 1A2

The first 232 tanks of the fifth production batch was delivered as the Leopard 1A2 between 1972 and 1974. The A2 included a heavier and better armored turret, and therefore did not receive the B&V armor add-ons as did the earlier machines. They did receive the other upgrades however--the Leopard 1A2A1 received the PZB 200, the Leopard 1A2A2 the digital radios, and the Leopard 1A2A3 got both.

[edit] Leopard 1A3

Canadian Leopard C1 (1A3) at CFB Borden museum

The next 110 vehicles in the fifth batch were fitted with a new welded turret incorporating spaced armor and a wedge-shaped gun mantle, creating the Leopard 1A3. Although the level of armor area density was equivalent to the A2's new welded version, the internal volume was increased by 1.2 m³ and the effective protection level by half. The improved TRP 2A independent sight was installed for the commander. Upgrades were identical to the 1A2 models, the Leopard 1A3A1 with the night sights, Leopard 1A3A2 with the new radios, and the Leopard 1A3A3 with both.

[edit] Leopard 1A4

The Leopard 1A4 formed the sixth batch of 250 vehicles, delivered starting in 1974. The 1A4 was externally similar to the 1A3, but included a new computerized fire control system and the new EMES 12A1 sighting system to aim it. In addition the commander was provided with his own independent night sighting system, the PERI R12. The new equipment used up space and the ammunition load was reduced to 55 rounds, of which 42 were stored in the magazine to the left of the driver.

The 1A4 was initially to have followed an upgrade program similar to the earlier models, but instead this model was phased out of service in th elate eighties in favor of more dramatic upgrades to the earlier 1A1A1 models.

Chilean Leopard 1A5.

[edit] Leopard 1A5

In 1980 a research program was undertaken to study further improvements to the Leopard 1, providing it with a completely modern fire control system and fully effective night/bad-weather vision system. This was going to require even more room than the larger turret from the 1A3/1A4 models, so the decision was made to base the upgrades on the earlier models which were no longer competitive.

The resulting Leopard 1A5 was based on 1339 vehicles of the Leopard 1A1A1 model. The turrets were again modified for the 1A5, with a larger section at the back, both in order to store all of the new equipment, as well as to move more of the ammunition into the rear turret, as opposed to the left side of the driver where it had traditionally been stored. The storage locker extended the turret almost to the rear of the tank when the gun was facing forward. The new turret was also able to mount the newer 120 mm gun from the Leopard 2 if desired, although this option has not been used.

After trials the Krupp-Atlas Electronik EMES 18 fire control system was selected in December 1983, developed from the EMES 15 used on the Leopard 2. The EMES 18 included two new sights on to the top of the turret, and no longer required the "bumps" as did the earlier optical systems. A crucial part of the upgrade was the introduction of more effective ammunition, including new APFSDS rounds.

The Leopard tank could also be fitted with bolt-on lexan armour panels, which have increased the effectiveness of the armour. These "modified" tanks have proved themselves in the field.

The first modified vehicle was delivered in early 1987. Since then almost all users of the Leopard 1 have also applied similar changes to their own vehicles, and in most ways the 1A5 can be considered the "standard" Leopard 1 today.

[edit] Leopard 1A6

A single 1A1A1 was also modified with additional armor on the turret and had the 120 mm gun as the Leopard 1A6. The project was ended in 1987, as the Leopard 2 was in widespread service at this point and the 1A5 offered a reasonable upgrade path for a fraction of the cost.

[edit] Other modifications

Simultanous to the production of the battle tanks a number of engineering, bridging and recovery vehicles was developed, as well as a number of versions used in the anti-aircraft role.

In Holland, there is an improved version called "Leopard 1 verbeterd" (improved), the same version is used by the Chilean army.

The most well known Leopard variants are the Engineer Vehicle Bergepanzer and the Anti-Aircraft Gun Gepard. Some consider the latter to be among the best in NATO since most forces use only missiles for anti-air defence except the former USSR nations who still use the missiles and guns. The equivalent of the Gepard is the ZSU-23-4

The Canadian Land Forces operate the Beaver bridgelayer, Taurus ARV, and Badger AEV, all based on the Leopard 1.

The United Kingdom's Royal Marines operate a vehicle known as the Hippo BARV (or Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle]]. The Hippo is a conversion by ALVIS Moelv of a Leopard 1A5 chassis. The main alteration has been the replacement of the turret with a raised superstructure which resembling the wheelhouse of a boat. The original 830 hp (634 kW) diesel engine has been retained but the gearing of the transmission had been lowered, reducing the vehicle's road speed to 32 km/h (20 mph), but increasing tractive effort to 250 kN (56,000 lbf). Other modifications include the addition of working platforms, a nosing block, raised air intakes and an Auxiliary power unit; this has raised the weight of the vehicle from 42.5 tonnes to 50 tonnes. The Hippo has a fording depth of 2.95 m (10 ft) and can pull vehicles up to 50 tonnes weight or push off from the beach a 240 tonne displacement landing craft.

[edit] Gilded Leopard, Eber and Keiler

Almost as soon as the Leopard was introduced into service in 1965, Porsche was awarded a contract to study further improvements to the existing design, while waiting deliveries of the MBT-70 in the mid-1970s. This original Gilded Leopard (vergoldeter Leopard) program expired in 1967 with no production order. In that year it had already become obvious that the MBT-70 would be a failure. The agreement between the USA and the BRD forbade any national development of a MBT apart from technological experimentation, so a new tank project was begun under the designation of Experimentalentwicklung or "experimental development", two prototypes of which were built.

When the MBT-70 program was ended a further contract was offered under the name Wild Boar (Eber), with an emphasis on using as many technologies from the MBT-70 as possible, but without the problematic combined gun - rocket launcher. Two prototype vehicles were constructed using a new chassis from Porsche with the road wheels from the MBT-70 and the original Leopard engine, combined with a new Wegmann turret mounting the MBT-70's Rheinmetall 120 mm smoothbore gun (although some also mounted the original 105 mm). These were considered promising enough that seven more were ordered, this time powered by the MTU engine designed for the MBT-70. When this happened the Experimentalentwicklung team went public with their alternative design which they called the Keiler (a synonym of Eber). In 1971 the minister of defence, Helmut Schmidt, decided to abandon the Eber-project and build seventeen prototypes of a Leopard 2, based on the Keiler design, which had a turret with spaced sloped armour. The maximum weight was to be fifty metric tons.

During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, 1950s and '60s generation tanks were badly beaten by wire-guided missiles, and it was realized that dramatically improved armor protection was needed. The decision was made to allow the tank to increase its weight to the next classification, Military Loading Class 60 (tonnes), and a new design was effort started, with the spaced armour replaced with a much denser perforated armour assemblage. The new design would go on to augment and after the Cold War sometimes replace the Leopard in many countries' armies.

[edit] Operators

Countries that have at one point operated the Leopard 1 in their armed forces, or currently still do:

Australia (71) 90 Leopard 1A3 were originally delivered as AS1 and later upgraded.
Belgium (132 Leopard 1A5(BE)s, 334 originally)
Brazil (128 Leopard 1A1 and 240 Leopard 1A5)
Canada (114 C2 (updated 1A5), reduced to 66 in the early 2000s)
Chile (202 Leopard 1V´s)
Denmark (230 Leopard 1A5s, 120 of which of the 1A5DK version)
Germany (724, all retired in the early 2000s)
Greece (335)
Italy (920)
Netherlands (468 originally)
Norway (172)
Turkey (450)

[edit] Australia

The Leopard tanks first arrived in Australia from Germany in 1976, ending a selection and trials process which started in 1971 when the army decided it needed a replacement for the British Centurions serving since 1952.

They are now set to be retired with the arrival of the first of 59 rebuilt U.S. M1 Abrams tanks next month.

Australia will soon retire their stock of significantly upgraded early Leopard 1 tanks. A number of European nations have sought to sell their much more desirable surplus Leopard 2 tanks.

[edit] Australian Leopard external links

Australian plans to retire stocks

[edit] Canada

Leopard C1 at CFB Borden museum

Canada acquired 127 Leopard C1 tanks (equivalent to Leopard 1A3 with laser rangefinder) in 1978–79 for its Land Forces, with 114 being put into service. Most of these tanks were stationed in Germany during the Cold War, with a few retained at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, New Brunswick for training.

While investigating the possibilities of increasing the Leopards' armour and adding thermal night-vision equipment, five or six Leopard C1 tanks had an extremely thick MEXAS (Modular Expandable Armor System) appliqué armour kit applied, made by German firm IBD Deisenroth Engineering. These tanks served with Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) in the KFOR mission in Kosovo and designated as Leopard C1A1s. They were later upgraded with the same sights and fire-control system as the Leopard C2 (below).

Starting in 2000, the 114 Leopard C1 tanks in service were upgraded to Leopard C2 at a cost of CAD $139 million. The turrets of 123 surplus Leopard 1A5 tanks purchased from the German Defence Ministry were fitted into the existing Canadian tanks (nine turrets were reserved for spare parts and training), and the German tank hulls sold back to the upgrade contractor. The Leopard C2 is also equipped with thermal sights and EMES 18 fire-control system. Eighteen Leopard Crew Gunnery Trainers were purchased at the same time.

Canada also operates the Leopard 1-based Beaver bridgelayer and Taurus armoured recovery vehicle, bought with the original Leopard C1, and the Badger armoured engineering vehicle with a dozer blade and excavator bucket, which entered service in 1990.

A number of the Canadian Leopard tanks were pulled out of service in anticipation of replacing them with the eight-wheeled Mobile Gun System, but these plans were put on hold. Of the obsoleted tanks, 23 were sold to companies in North America, 4 put in museums or used as monuments, and 21 used as hard targets on ranges. The Canadian Army web site list indicates that 66 Leopard C2 remain in service.[1]

Canada has sent a squadron of the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) to Afghanistan, equipped with fifteen Leopard C2 tanks with add-on armour, as well as two recovery vehicles and two engineering vehicles.[2][3] The armoured squadron is intended to provide convoy protection, supporting Canada's Provincial Reconstruction Teams and other organizations equipped with lighter vehicles. The first tanks arrived in Kandahar in mid October 2006. [4] On December 2, 2006 the Leopards stationed in Kandahar entered the field, marking the first time since the Korean War that a Canadian armored squadron had sent tanks into an active warzone, and fired their cannons in anger for the first time in as many years on the following day in response to a Taliban rocket attack.